Sky Sports News placement: Insights from the Thomas Read Bursary winner

Gareth Hamill, 2024 Thomas Read Bursary recipient

In November last year, while studying for my MA in journalism at the University of Ulster, I was fortunate to be awarded the Thomas Read Bursary. This gave me the incredible opportunity to complete a short work placement with Sky Sports News (SSN), an experience I recently finished in September at their Osterley headquarters.

Early in my time at SSN, I worked with the planning team, joining their daily meetings. This gave me a real insight into how such a large news organisation operates and helped me appreciate the huge number of behind-the-scenes work that goes into every broadcast.

One of the most exciting parts of my placement was Deadline Day. I worked alongside the transfer team as the whole newsroom was buzzing with energy throughout the entire day. It was an unforgettable experience to watch these journalists in action and assist them in making content on such a dramatic day. The excitement kept up for the entire date with breaking news happening right up until the window closed.

Ryder cup at Sky Sports News

Working in the production department was another highlight of my placement. Seeing the fast-paced nature of live TV from inside the gallery was especially fascinating because everything could change in an instant, and it showed me just how adaptable everyone needs to be.

I also spent some time in the Sky Sports social team and got an understanding of how they work. This was really useful because I was able to see how different parts of the organisation produce different types of content. I was also able to see the sets that are used for Sky Sport’s YouTube content and meet some of the content creators who I have watched and admired for a long time like Dougie Critchley.

During my time in digital news, I contributed to both the football and multi-sport teams, which suited me perfectly as a fan of a wide range of sports. The football desk was an incredibly fast-paced environment where I helped produce a large volume of content. I also had the chance to write some of my own feature pieces, including previews for the Ballon d’Or, the new NBA season, and the 2026 darts calendar.

On my final day, I joined SSN journalist David Richardson at Brentford’s training ground for a press conference with manager Keith Andrews, as well as interviews with Kristoffer Ajer and the club’s psychologist. I assisted with preparation and research, which showed me how much background work goes into every interview. The highlight for me came when I was able to ask Andrews a question myself and later return to the newsroom to write up a report on his comments. As an Irish football fan, it was especially exciting to have the chance to ask questions to a former international player and coach.

I’d like to thank the NCTJ for supporting me with accommodation costs, and everyone at Sky Sports News, especially senior news editor Andy Thompson, for making my time in Osterley so memorable. Most importantly, I’m deeply grateful to the Read family for selecting me for the bursary and giving me the chance to gain such invaluable professional experience.